CORAL SPRINGS, FLA. (WSVN) - A Coral Springs officer caught on camera kneeing a handcuffed man in the head received no jail time after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge.
7News was in court as Officer Sandy Gomez was sentenced, Monday morning.
Gomez apologized in court for kneeing the suspect in the head in December.
“I’m not here to make excuses for my reaction,” he said. “I’m here to say that I’m sorry. I’m extremely embarrassed for the position that I have put myself in.”
The incident was captured on cellphone video, and Coral Springs Police immediately put him on unpaid administrative leave.
Gomez told the judge he thought his fiance, who is also a Coral Springs Police officer, was in danger during the arrest.
“Let me reassure you nothing like this has happened in the past, and it will never happen again,” he said. “I don’t think this incident shows who I am as a person or my character.”
The kicking incident was not the first time he has been investigated for excessive force.
Surveillance video from April 2017 showed Gomez walking a suspect into the booking room. He could be seen getting angry and pushing the man down.
He was cleared in that case, and Mike Dutko, his attorney, said he is sorry for the latest incident.
“Did you hear his comments in court? He accepts responsibility for having overreacted, regrets putting himself in this position,” Dutko said. “We would like you to know and appreciate that fact he still has departmental administrative issues to deal with.”
Gomez will not have to serve jail time but will be put on probation for one year and have to complete a 13-week anger management course. The judge also withheld adjudication, which means a battery conviction will not be on the record.
He will remain on unpaid administrative leave while police continue their internal affairs investigation.
Dutko said Gomez hopes to keep a job in law enforcement.
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